---
title: Archive a channel
---

import {TabItem, Tabs} from "@astrojs/starlight/components";

import FlattenedSteps from "../../components/FlattenedSteps.astro";
import NavigationSteps from "../../components/NavigationSteps.astro";
import ZulipTip from "../../components/ZulipTip.astro";
import SelectChannelViewGeneral from "../include/_SelectChannelViewGeneral.mdx";

import ArchiveIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/archive";
import MoreVerticalIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/more-vertical";
import UnarchiveIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/unarchive";

You can archive channels you no longer plan to use. Archiving a channel:

* Removes it from the left sidebar for all users.
* Prevents new messages from being sent to the channel.
* Prevents messages in the channel from being edited, deleted, or moved.

Archiving a channel does not unsubscribe users, or change who can access it.
Messages in archived channels still appear in [search
results](/help/search-for-messages), the [combined feed](/help/combined-feed),
and [recent conversations](/help/recent-conversations). If you prefer, you can
configure an archived channel to [hide its
content](#hide-content-in-an-archived-channel).

## Archive a channel

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <NavigationSteps target="relative/channel/all" />

      1. Select a channel.
      1. Click the **archive** (<ArchiveIcon />) icon
         in the upper right corner of the channel settings panel.
      1. Click **Confirm**.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <ZulipTip>
      You can also hover over a channel in the left sidebar, click on the
      **ellipsis** (<MoreVerticalIcon />), and
      select **Channel settings** to access settings for the channel.
    </ZulipTip>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## View archived channels

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <NavigationSteps target="relative/channel/all" />

      1. Select **Archived channels** from the dropdown next to the **Filter** box
         above the list of channels.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Hide content in an archived channel

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <NavigationSteps target="relative/channel/all" />

      1. Select **Archived channels** from the dropdown next to the **Filter** box
         above the list of channels.
      1. Select a channel.
      1. Select the **Subscribers** tab on the right.
      1. Remove all subscribers.

      <SelectChannelViewGeneral />

      1. Under **Channel permissions**, [make the channel
         private](/help/change-the-privacy-of-a-channel).
      1. Click **Advanced configuration** to view advanced configuration options.
      1. Under **Subscription permissions**, remove everyone from **Who can subscribe
         to this channel**, and **Who can subscribe anyone to this channel**. These
         permissions give users content access to the channel.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

You can also make these configuration changes prior to archiving a channel.

## Unarchive a channel

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <NavigationSteps target="relative/channel/all" />

      1. Select **Archived channels** from the dropdown in the upper left.
      1. Select a channel.
      1. Click the **unarchive** (<UnarchiveIcon />)
         icon in the upper right corner of the channel settings panel.
      1. Click **Confirm**.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Related articles

* [Edit a message](/help/edit-a-message)
* [Delete a message](/help/delete-a-message)
* [Delete a topic](/help/delete-a-topic)
* [Message retention policy](/help/message-retention-policy)
* [Channel permissions](/help/channel-permissions)
